Talk

Flip

Other subjects

I have cocked up big time on after school care for next fortnight and have made someone else's life shite as well and it's all my fault

6 replies

MrsSchadenfreude · 04/06/2006 19:41

My au pair is going on holiday for two weeks and I had provisionally asked her friend who lives in same village if she could do after school care to cover. She agreed willingly (she has done it for me before and there's never been a problem) and I said I would speak to her employer (who exploits her -goes ski-ing for a week and leaves her AP in sole charge of her DD and doesn't pay her any more for it). I went off to UK to look for a house and forgot to ask this woman. She sent me a snotty text, saying she understood I wanted X to do some after school care and she "would think about it" as she didn't think it would be convenient. She has now said that X can't do it as her DD has a lot of stuff on after school at this time. I am really annoyed a) because I caused this and have soured relations between X and her employer b) because of her attitude (her DD is at an after school club and I would have picked mine up before her DD comes home so it wouldn't have meant she had diluted care and c) because this au pair is now being denied the opportunity to earn a bit of extra money. I often have this woman's DD for the day and have offered my Ap's services when she has been stuck (but she is too tight to take her up and takes sick leave instead).

And at the end of the day, I am STILL without after school care...

OP posts:

Report

Beetroot · 04/06/2006 19:45

i would call her and bgrovel saying how sorry you are, that you forgot etc

Report

MrsSchadenfreude · 04/06/2006 19:50

Beety, I have grovelled big time. I rang her immediately I got the text and said how sorry I was - I had cocked up my AP's holiday dates, and what with going back to UK had texted X quickly to check her availability, and had intended to speak to her that night.

I am debating whether to say loudly in front of her boss "Oh I think I will just commit fraud and pull a week's sicky like you do when you get stuck." (But I know I won't.)

I will certainly never offer to look after her daughter again.

OP posts:

Report

Beetroot · 04/06/2006 21:02

oh gawd, i don't know then. after school clubs I guess are a no no

Report

motherinferior · 04/06/2006 21:05

oooooooooofck. huge commiserations.

Report

Skribble · 04/06/2006 22:08

I would get in touch with local child careadvice place or whatever they callit near you and see what is on offer, we have a local sitter service who pick op from school etc and look after children in your house or perhaps a child minder who has a vacancy willbe happy to have her for a fornight.

I needed child care for 1 afternoon next week as I am away working and DH has a meeting (he can come home early and work from home the rest of the time). No after school club, 2 only 2 childminders were unable to fit 2 kids in, and my house is in no fit state for a sitter to come in (plus I really don't feel comfortable with a stranger in my house. So Dh will have to give the meeting a miss. At least I can still go.

Report

MrsSchadenfreude · 05/06/2006 13:02

There is an after school club but it is a) difficult to get into at short notice as teachers' kids get priority and b) extortionately expensive. I worked out that for care for DD1 from 3-6 and DD2 from 4-6 for 2 weeks would cost me in the region of 500 quid!

However, Horrible Woman has now said I can use her AP for first week, so will either take leave or see if After School Club can take them for the second week for at least a couple of afternoons.